Re: *Re: is DS a disease

[Guest guest]

I have finally caught up on all the posts. Wow you guys were busy today !

God made and each of my children and step children very special. Special needs or not, they are all special. My initial reaction to the posts was to want to protect 's specialness, especially in light of ACOG and the abortion rate and what is potentially the future or lack there of, of DS 100 years from now, and my knee jerk reaction was that I would not change if there was a pill available to remove the DS from him.

BUT.... Then I thought that's not true for me.

I thought of my step daughter who is learning disabled. Who is over 30, and the struggles she has faced her whole life with reading. Of her self-esteem issues we have worked on forever. The countless hours reading children's books because she could. The encouragement I still give her at EVERY conversation. And I realized that if there was a pill to "fix" her learning disability she would take it in a heartbeat, and I would do whatever I could to ensure she got it.

Then I thought of ... Why would I think differently of him than of her? I love them both equally, as they are. I accept them both as gifts from God, as they are. AND If a pill were available to turn off that third 21st chromosome. If it were proven to work, I would use it for him. I am sure. Until that time, we all do what we think is best for our children.

To ............ HI **waves ** girl how the heck have ya been and how bout a pic of Sam (privately if you want). Too long since we have talked.

Sami Jo........... Hugsssssssss how have you been?

Okay, that's my nickles worth on the subject.

Hugs,

 "Jules"

Romero

-- *Re: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] is DS a disease

Well said Steph !! God made both of my girls with special needs and there was a reason for it. As for my sister, I believe she was put on earth so that I would learn from her and her special needs for when my daughters were born 48+ years later. They were made perfect in God's eyes. I love them exactly the way they are.

[DownSyndromeInfoEx change] is DS a disease

Carol,

I read the entire thread DS clinical trials and I guess I am very optimistic that we are on the verge of a safe, effective treatment to improve cognition. The reason I can say this is that the scientific research has shown that this is possible, in adult mice multiple times.

My question to you and everyone is - Do you think DS is a disease? Why or why not?

Here are a couple of definitions:

disease /dis·ease/ (di-zez´) any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.

A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms...

Do we fit the definition?